Glamour chooses Miss Rachel and Rachel Zegler as Women of the Year 

Glamour magazine unveiled its U.S. 2025 Women of the Year honorees on October 27, celebrating a class of trailblazers under the theme of "Sisterhood"—the bonds uniting women across industries, generations, and global challenges.

Among the nine standout figures are two Rachels: children's media sensation Ms. Rachel (real name: Rachel Griffin Accurso) and rising Hollywood star Rachel Zegler. Their selections have ignited controversy over their vocal pro-Palestinian stances amid the Israel-Hamas war.

The full list joins global icons like Demi Moore and Tyla, with the ceremony set for November 4 at The Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Spotlight on Ms. Rachel

At 42, Ms. Rachel has amassed a staggering 13 billion YouTube views and 17 million subscribers through her "Songs for Littles" channel, where she uses songs and play to teach toddlers literacy and emotional skills. Her approach, rooted in her background as a former preschool teacher and speech-language pathology student, has spawned nine books, sold-out toys, and a Netflix series that became the platform's seventh-most-watched show in early 2025 (and top kids' program).

Glamour praises her as a "cultural flashpoint" for blending "nursery school tenderness and moral clarity."

Her "activism" surged in 2024 with emotional Instagram Lives praying for Gaza's children, declaring, "I can't imagine what it's like to be a child in Gaza right now." Facing boycott calls and death threats, she defended her stance in the profile: "My support for Palestinian children is not antisemitic, it's about empathy for all kids." Of course, she never says anything about the Jewish kids massacred on October 7th.

Her blatant antisemitism weeping for Gazans led to lost brand deals, but she pushed on anyway.

Spotlight on Rachel Zegler

The 24-year-old Zegler, a first-generation Colombian-American, exploded onto screens as María in Steven Spielberg's 2021 West Side Story (earning Golden Globe buzz). She's since tackled Disney's live-action Snow White (2025 release) and Eva Perón in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita on the West End, earning rave reviews for her vocal prowess and stage command. Glamour's interview with Helen Mirren delves into her "year of two halves": the Snow White promo backlash—where she called the original tale "dated" and critiqued its stalking prince trope—followed by Evita's triumph.

Post-Snow White trailer, posted on X: "And always remember, free Palestine," seen by some as shading co-star Gal Gadot (Israeli). Many others say that the fact that she couldn't keep her political opinions to herself was the only reason the movie flopped so badly.

The dual selections have sparked a firestorm, with critics accusing Glamour of rewarding "anti-Israel hate" over achievement.

Fox News and RedState dubbed it "vile Jew hate... condoned and rewarded," tying Zegler's post to tensions with Gadot and Ms. Rachel's Gaza prayers to lost sponsorships. The New York Post quipped the Rachels "win for perfecting the art of Israel-hating," while Twitchy speculated pro-Palestine views as the "qualifier" for the list.

Social media amplified this: X users called it "shameful" and "woke infamy," with one viral post decrying, "Vile Jew hate is now not only condoned, but rewarded."

Has Glamour lost the plot completely?